double basses, bows, guitars, mandolins… »

Simon Bour

Son métier

Ses violons

Four years of learning in Crémone, country of Stradivarus and Amati, made Simon Bour a very gifted luthier. The mariah of a work of art and a passion…

Luthier from 1992, Simon Bour moved to Place Renaudel since 2004 (near the Bordeaux Train Station and near the Conservatory). After a training in Crémone in Italy and obtaining the title of « Meilleur Ouvrier de France », he now take care of violins, violas, cellos, double basses, bows , guitars, mandolins.

On the desk of his workshop : a big plane like a pencil sharpener , a precision marking gauge bronze odd tools that we could think he’s a surgeon ... and a thin ponytail.

« That’s right ! These are horse-hair , Mongolian standards. The best. They are chosen one by one and used to pack the bow. »

In his workshop, everything is carefully listed : tools to work the rare species of wood (maple , spruce , ebony, rosewood or mahogany), polish that will be passed gently to touch the work…

For the restoration, Simon BOUR uses everything at the same time, his skill, his knowledge and his patience to rehabilitate instruments damaged by time or to make an hoarse instrument sing again, sometimes dumb. Often prestigious relics that must be resurrected. Musicians are looking for antique instruments, they sound better.

The molecular structure of the fiber has grown accustomed to vibrate, it has been modified in its function. It’s very important. Nowadays, the good woods are approximatively 50 years old, but on instruments that have been played on. The same instrument, unplyed fuck off a long time, doesn’t make any sound anymore. « It find his sound back as it is played again. »

“For most part, they are violins made at Mirecourt and are 80 to 100 years old, entirely put back on their original state, they provide high level of sonority compare to modern instruments” he specifies.

“This talented craftman, likes to restore his treasure the morning, alone, in a quiet place far away from looks. With a shy smile, he reveals his passion and open himself a little ... One life is not enough to become stringed-instrument maker.”